Birthday Traditions and Tokens

A material-culture board about greeting cards, giving, decorated containers, candles, and paper throws.

The board

Swipe the board sideways · 5 categories

Birthday Traditions and Tokens
Greeting CardsGivingDecorated ContainersCandle CraftPaper Throws
100What paperboard material forms the base of a typical greeting card?100Supply the everyday synonym given for a gift.100In which century did the idea of breaking a treat-filled container come to Europe?100What ignitable component sits inside a candle's solid fuel?100Which plastic film is listed alongside paper and metallic material?
200Name the two front-cover image types listed in the definition.200What expectation must be absent from the definition of a gift?200Who brought the European tradition to Mexico?200Which solid fuel appears first in the definition?200Give the Italian singular whose plural became the English celebration term.
300Which wrapper usually packages a greeting card?300Economists use what term for a system centered on giving?300What aspect has the piñata mostly lost?300Name the animal-fat alternative listed beside wax.300What universally shiny material is described as smaller?
400Contrast mass production with the other construction type available.400Name the act listed with kindness as a service that can be a gift.400With which country are these containers commonly associated?400What traditional occupation makes candles?400Choose the simplest form that scissors or a paper shredder can make.
500Which folded paper feature is listed among elaborate card additions?500Beyond birthdays, on which broad occasions are gifts often presented?500A history map marks the town where local records place the tradition's start. Which town is it?500Which physical action carries melted fuel upward through the wick?500Which gas can propel pieces from a small celebration cannon?

Ages 12 and up · 25 of 25 clues written · final round · about 20 minutes

Open it in the maker

26 of 26 answers carry the sentence they were checked against

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Every clue, every answer, and what it was checked against

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Greeting Cards

  1. What paperboard material forms the base of a typical greeting card? 100

    card stockChecked against: A greeting card (American English) or greetings card (British English) is a piece of card stock, usually with an illustration or photo on its front cover, made of high-quality paper featuring an expression of friendship, love, celebration, or other sentiment.Source, pinned revision

  2. Name the two front-cover image types listed in the definition. 200

    illustration or photoChecked against: A greeting card (American English) or greetings card (British English) is a piece of card stock, usually with an illustration or photo on its front cover, made of high-quality paper featuring an expression of friendship, love, celebration, or other sentiment.Source, pinned revision

  3. Which wrapper usually packages a greeting card? 300

    envelopeChecked against: Greeting cards are usually packaged using an envelope and come in a variety of styles. There are both mass-produced and handmade versions available and they may be distributed by hundreds of companies large and small.Source, pinned revision

  4. Contrast mass production with the other construction type available. 400

    handmade versionsChecked against: Greeting cards are usually packaged using an envelope and come in a variety of styles. There are both mass-produced and handmade versions available and they may be distributed by hundreds of companies large and small.Source, pinned revision

  5. Which folded paper feature is listed among elaborate card additions? 500

    pop-upsChecked against: While typically inexpensive, more elaborate cards with die-cuts, pop-ups, sound elements or glued-on decorations may be more expensive.Source, pinned revision

Giving

  1. Supply the everyday synonym given for a gift. 100

    presentChecked against: A gift, also known as a present, is an item given to someone without the expectation of payment or anything in return.Source, pinned revision

  2. What expectation must be absent from the definition of a gift? 200

    payment or anything in returnChecked against: A gift, also known as a present, is an item given to someone without the expectation of payment or anything in return.Source, pinned revision

  3. Economists use what term for a system centered on giving? 300

    gift economyChecked against: Economists have elaborated the economics of gift-giving into the notion of a gift economy.Source, pinned revision

  4. Name the act listed with kindness as a service that can be a gift. 400

    forgivenessChecked against: By extension, the term gift can refer to any item or act of service that makes the other happier or less sad, especially as a favor, including forgiveness and kindness.Source, pinned revision

  5. Beyond birthdays, on which broad occasions are gifts often presented? 500

    holidaysChecked against: Gifts are often presented on occasions such as birthdays and holidays.Source, pinned revision

Decorated Containers

  1. In which century did the idea of breaking a treat-filled container come to Europe? 100

    14th centuryChecked against: The idea of breaking a container filled with treats came to Europe in the 14th century.Source, pinned revision

  2. Who brought the European tradition to Mexico? 200

    The SpanishChecked against: The Spanish brought the European tradition to Mexico, although there were similar traditions in Mesoamerica, such as the Aztecs' honoring the birthday of the god Huītzilōpōchtli in mid-December.Source, pinned revision

  3. What aspect has the piñata mostly lost? 300

    its religious characterChecked against: Today, the piñata is still part of Mexican culture, the cultures of other countries in Latin America, as well as the United States, but it has mostly lost its religious character.Source, pinned revision

  4. With which country are these containers commonly associated? 400

    MexicoChecked against: Piñatas are commonly associated with Mexico.Source, pinned revision

  5. A history map marks the town where local records place the tradition's start. Which town is it? 500

    AcolmanChecked against: According to local records, the Mexican piñata tradition began in the town of Acolman, just north of Mexico City, where piñatas were introduced for catechism purposes as well as to co-opt the Huitzilopochtli ceremony.Source, pinned revision

Candle Craft

  1. What ignitable component sits inside a candle's solid fuel? 100

    wickChecked against: A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax, or another flammable solid substance such as tallow, that provides light, and in some cases, a fragrance.Source, pinned revision

  2. Which solid fuel appears first in the definition? 200

    waxChecked against: A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax, or another flammable solid substance such as tallow, that provides light, and in some cases, a fragrance.Source, pinned revision

  3. Name the animal-fat alternative listed beside wax. 300

    tallowChecked against: A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax, or another flammable solid substance such as tallow, that provides light, and in some cases, a fragrance.Source, pinned revision

  4. What traditional occupation makes candles? 400

    chandlerChecked against: A person who makes candles is traditionally known as a chandler.Source, pinned revision

  5. Which physical action carries melted fuel upward through the wick? 500

    capillary actionChecked against: The flame then melts the top of the mass of solid fuel, which moves upward through the wick via capillary action to be continually burnt, thereby maintaining a constant flame.Source, pinned revision

Paper Throws

  1. Which plastic film is listed alongside paper and metallic material? 100

    mylarChecked against: Confetti are small pieces or streamers of paper, mylar or metallic material, usually thrown at celebrations, especially parades and weddings.Source, pinned revision

  2. Give the Italian singular whose plural became the English celebration term. 200

    confettoChecked against: The origins are from the Latin confectum, with confetti the plural of Italian confetto, small sweet.Source, pinned revision

  3. What universally shiny material is described as smaller? 300

    glitterChecked against: A distinction is made between confetti and glitter; glitter is smaller than confetti (pieces usually no larger than 1 mm) and is universally shiny.Source, pinned revision

  4. Choose the simplest form that scissors or a paper shredder can make. 400

    shredded paperChecked against: The simplest confetti is simply shredded paper (see ticker-tape parade), and can be made with scissors or a paper shredder.Source, pinned revision

  5. Which gas can propel pieces from a small celebration cannon? 500

    carbon dioxideChecked against: For smaller volumes of confetti, ABS or PVC "barrels" are filled and the confetti is projected via a "cannon" (a small pressure vessel) using compressed air or carbon dioxide.Source, pinned revision

Final round

  1. Gifts, cards, a party, and this transition-marking ceremony appear in the source's list.

    rite of passageChecked against: Birthdays of people are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with birthday gifts, birthday cards, a birthday party, or a rite of passage.Source, pinned revision

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